Timely Advice8/7/2009 3:24:38 AM"Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket." Proverbs 25:11 (NLT) "Words are important to some people" as my pastor says. I think this is especially true for writers, don't you?

When my sister was recently diagnosed with pneumonia, I was okay with that. But then plans and arrangements were quickly discussed for her funeral as she laid in the bed within five feet of earshot. Right before my eyes, she was slowly slipping away as I sat helplessly by.

The next day a dear friend of mine called me at work and I tearfully shared my pain with her. Understanding my sister's dire situation of being severely brain injured and bedridden for nearly ten years, she said to me, "Frances, her husband has been your sister's primary caretaker all these years and he has already gone through a type of pre-grieving process-if you will. In other words, you are not where he is in the grieving process just yet, but you will be."

Now here are the real golden words that placed the seal on my new perspective. Lee said, "Sometimes pneumonia presents itself as a God opportunity."

It's as if the weight of the world was lifted off of my shoulders and I felt lighter than I've felt in days. My eyes were opened and my ears intuned to God's revelation. I'm amazed and oh so grateful when God sends the right people at the right time to help us through difficult situations, aren't you?